College football players will often go through position changes during spring practices.
To see a defensive lineman move to the offensive side of the ball is not uncommon. Same goes for running backs, wide receivers and members of the secondary.
Quarterbacks moving to linebacker is usually a bit more of stretch. In the case of former Oregon quarterbacks Andy Collins and Scott Vossmeyer, it is a real possibility.
With Kellen Clemens and Jason Fife returning to the position and three recruits expected to round out the roster as late as winter next year, Collins and Vossmeyer were getting lost in the jumble.
So now, the duo is making a jump to the defense, not exactly a breeding ground for former quarterbacks.
“It’s been kind of tough getting the whole different mindset from offense to defense,” Collins said. “So far it’s going all right, I just have to learn the defense.”
Of the two, only Vossmeyer saw action on the field last season. He played in three games, but threw just two passes, completing one for six yards.
The failure of Collins to step on the field is due to the fact he redshirted last season after coming over from Zillah High School in Zillah, Wash.
Head coach Mike Bellotti said during the offseason that the two would be moving to linebacker. Collins was asked to move the linebacker by the coaching staff, while Vossmeyer was another situation.
“I didn’t really know what to think at first,” Collins said. “I’d always wanted to be a quarterback. I guess if it gave me a chance to be on the field earlier, I was all for it.”
“I was asked to not play quarterback last year and play fullback,” Vossmeyer said. “At which time, I went to (linebackers coach Don) Pellum and asked him if he would give me a shot to play linebacker.”
Chances are, both won’t have earned a starting spot next season, but could see significant time on the field.

Back to normal
Tuesday marked the first day of full pads for Oregon during spring practice. The Ducks opened the week by wearing helmets only Saturday, then added shoulder pads Monday.
With the ability to hit without great chance of injury, there was significant enthusiasm from Oregon players.
“You look at it as though it’s not really realistic,” Marques Binns said of practice without full pads. “The real way to play football is hitting, tackling, getting in there and grinding. So now, it’s like the real days for us. The other two days were just preparation.”
Binns is a member of the Oregon secondary, a unit that was statistically ranked as one of the worst in Division-I college football last season. It is a also a group that should benefit most from the added padding, in that they can now defend without great worry of injury.
Bellotti is looking for the group to step up its aggressiveness, and also said last week that he expects to get a better read on the team’s running backs now.
“One thing, it’s going to be exciting,” he said. “It’s going to be able to cut it loose. We had to hold back being in helmets only because you had to worry about injury, that type of thing.
“We’ll contest the passes in the air now, which we have not been doing. It changes for everybody. People will get to the ground. The real key will be for everyone to execute their technique, but now they’re protected somewhat, and they can sell out more.”
Oregon practices again Thursday before a scheduled scrimmage Saturday, which Bellotti said should last for approximately 60 plays.